Billy Baron is leaving URI; will "explore options" on future

SOUTH KINGSTOWN - Billy Baron's busy college basketball career is about to take another turn.

Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer kevinmcnamara33

SOUTH KINGSTOWN - Billy Baron's busy college basketball career is about to take another turn.

Baron is leaving the University of Rhode Island, according to the school. It is unclear where he may transfer to but his father, Jim, is the new coach at Canisius College in Buffalo. While that is a potential landing spot, it's far from a done deal.

"I want to explore my options," Baron said Tuesday night. "I'll explore playing for my Dad at Canisius but right now it was too emotionally complex for me to stay at URI. It wouldn't have been fair for me or the new coaching staff or my teammates. It's been an emotional rollercoaster for me."

"We wish Billy the best as he continues his college basketball career," new URI coach Danny Hurley said in a statement. "We think the world of him as a player and a person."

Baron, a star prep player at Bishop Hendricken, began his college career at Virginia but left after one semester and transferred to URI to play for his father. He became eligible last December and looked good in his sophomore year and had two years of eligibility remaining at URI. Now he'll have to sit out the 2012-13 season and have just one year left to play college ball.

If he decides to move to Canisius, however, there is a chance he can apply for a waiver through the NCAA and try to play right away for his father.